Means for transporting heavy loads



April 24, 5 E. E. BOLLINGER 2,550,219

MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING HEAVY LOADS Filed 001. 21, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Z 1 O fid wz azzm w E. E. BOLLINGER MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING HEAVY LOADS April 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 21; 1944 Edward zfiazzz'n ez Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES MEANS FOR. TRANSPORTING HnAvr- LOADS Edward E. Bollinger, Lancaster, Pa. Application October 21, 1944, SerialNo. 559,719

6 Claims. 1-

This, invention. relates to means'for transportings heavy loads in a manner materially reducing the time and labor as now generally required in the moving or shifting or comparable loads, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a, meansofj this kind; whichisiof a character particularly designed and adapted for use in connection with an industrial lift truck.

It is also an, object ofv the, inventiontoprovide a means for the purpose desired; comprising a, turntable tolbe operativel'y engagedwith the load. carrier or. fork of an industrial lift truck and for coactio-n with one end, portion of, the, load, togetherwith a dolly for operative coaction with the opposite end portionof theload.

Anadditional object of the invention is to time vide a means for moving or transporting heavy loads comprising the use of two load supporting elements, one of which constitutes a fifth wheel, structure for operative engagement, with, the fork. or loadcarrier of an industriallift truck and. with. the load and the other support constituting a dolly for operative engagement from below with the load and wherein each of such, supports is, of a character. to be effectively engaged With. a: load supporting skid or withv a fiat surface portion of the load.

The invention consists in the details of con struction and in the combination and arrangement' of the several parts-of my improved means for transporting heavy loads whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter' more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view illustrating a front end of a load coupled to the load fork or:

carrier of a lift fork;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the opposite. end'portion of the load having engagedtherewith dollies embodying the present. invention;

Figure, 3 is a diagrammatic view in top plan illustrating a means embodying the present invention and as illustrated in Figures l; and 2';

Figure 4 isa view in bottom plan of the fifth wheel structure embodying the invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5,5yof Figure 4;.

Figure 6 is a view in'top plan of the structure as illustratedyin Figure 4 with portions broken away;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in bottom plan illustrating a fifthwheel structure embodying another embodimentof the invention;

Figure 8, is a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partlyin section of the assembly illustrated in Figure 7."; Figure 9 is a view in bottom plan of a dolly as herein embodied; V

Figure 10 is a view in top plan of the dolly as illustratedin Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary; sectional view taken" substantially on the line l'll I of Figure 2.

of heavy or large loads may be accomplished with a material saving in both labor andtime As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, such means embodies the use of two forms of supporting membersA andB, the member A constituting a "fifth wheel structure and the member B a dolly. The member A is directly used in connection withjtheload carrier or fork F'of an industrial truck while the member B. is suitably positioned beneath the load to be transporte ed in proper relation with the member Awhen engaged with the load.

The industrial lift, truck may be of any preferred type and no partrthereof forms part of the present invention.

The member A comprises an elongated member I 'of desired dimensions and which is provided at desired spaced points thereon with the underhung loopmembers 2 through which aredirected the arms 3 of the load carrier or lifting fork'IF when the member A is in applied or workingi position.

Threading through a wall of each, of the loop members 2 is a binding screw t for coaction with a portion of a fork arm 3- within the loop meme 7 ber to lock the member A upon the load carrier or fork F. It is believedto be obvious, however,

v that other means may be employed to effect the, desired locking of the member A in applied or working'position upon the load carrier orsforkj Fl The central portion of the member I is, pro-.5,

vided with an opening 5 through which is adapt:

ed to be freely inserted from abovea king'bolt. 5 depending from and rigid with the central por tion of the bolster A! of the member A. Thef upon the elongated member I is such as to permit ready separation or assembly.

The bolster A, as herein comprised, is substantially V-shaped in form from end to end with its walls I substantially in right angular relation although this angularity may be otherwise as deemed best. This particular formation of the bolster A permits the same to be engaged from below to the best advantage with the usual cross sills II or the like as comprised in the general type of foundations now employed for placing machinery or other heavy loads to be transported. However, the upper or outer margins of the walls I I] are continued by the outstanding flanges I2 at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the king bolt 6 with the top fiat faces substantially coplanar. This permits the bolster A to be used when required in connection with a fiat part of the load to be transported.

The opposite end portions of the outstanding flanges I2 have threaded therethrough from below the heavy bolts I l which can also be employed to advantage for effective engagement from below with the load to be transported when the use of the bolster A may otherwise not be effective. Under certain conditions it is of importance to have the bolster A effectively tied to the load and for this purpose the walls I0 at their central portions are provided with the outstanding arms I provided in their free extremities with the claws I6, to which a chain or other flexible element may be locked, said chain or flexible element, of course, being disposed over or around a foundationsill or other part of the load with which the member A is employed. I

The member or dolly B, as herein disclosed, comprises the. side members I! substantially V- shaped in form and having their upper edges provided with the upstanding penetrating teeth I8 to facilitate elfectiveengagement with a cross sill or other part of the load to be transported. The side members I! are maintained in desired spaced relation by the interposed flat top plates I9 which permit the member or dolly B to be firmly held in position.

Underlying the plates I9 and in swiveled con nection'therewith are the caster Wheels 20. There is a single caster Wheel at each end of the member or dolly B with the wheel 29 at one end to one side of the transverse center of the member B and the second wheel 20 at the opposite side of the transverse center. This arrangement of the caster wheels 20 assures the effectiveness of the member B in use and functions particularly to prevent undue tilting of the load resting upon the member B.

The intermediate portion or head 2I of the Y yoke 22 for each of the caster wheels is provided therearound with the equidistantly spaced openings 23 adapted to be selectively brought into register with an opening 24 in the top plate I9 thereabove and a locking. or holding pin 25 is engaged through said registering openings to lock the caster wheels against rotation. It has been fully demonstrated in practice that Whfil! 9 load is in transit, the locking of one of the caster wheels of each of the members B, with the second caster wheel free to rotate, the load being drawn by the industrial lift truck will travel straight ahead therewith yet properly turn with the steering of the lift truck. Of course, when it is desired to place or remove the load within a restricted area, both of the caster wheels 20 of the member 13 should be free to rotate as under such conditions it often is found necessary that manual lateral pressure be imposed upon the load being transported to facilitate the desired handling.

The V formation of the side members ll of the member B permits the member or dolly B to be effectively employed in connection with a transverse sill or kindred part of the load While the plates I9 permit the effective use of the member or dolly B with a fiat surface of a part of the load. These plates I9 are provided with the suitably positioned upstanding penetrating members 25 to facilitate the desired coaction of the member or dolly B with a load.

As hereinbefore stated, it is the general practice in connection with heavy loads, such as machinery or the like, to place the same on a foundation including a transverse sill. In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings, there is suitably secured to the under surface of one of said transverse sills a plate 26 from the central portion of which depends the rigid king pin 2'! which is adapted to be disposed through the opening 5 of the elongated member I and maintained in swiveled connection with the member I by the member or nut 28 threading upon the king pin 2] from below the member I. In this arrangement the plate 26 and its king pin 21 remains as a part of the foundation upon which the load to be transported is initially placed and when so used, there is obviated the necessity of using the bolster A hereinbefore referred to.

In practice, the lift truck is moved into posi-' tion at one end of the load, which may be in the form of a crated machine or the like and, by the use of the load carrier or the fork F, the load is lifted at one end suificiently to allow the dollies B to be properly placed under the load. The opposite end of the load remains, of course, upon the floor. The fork of the lift truck is then lowered until the load comes to rest upon the dollies.

The member A is then mounted upon the fork F of the load carrier by the extension of the arms of the fork through the loop members 2 and the binding screws 4 are then tightened up to secure the member A on the fork. The supported member may then be moved beneath a suitable portion of the load at the opposite end thereof from the dollies B or if the load is not of such construction as to permit the member A to be shifted under it, the load is first raised by the lift truck, before mounting the member A upon the fork, and suitably blocked with timbers at the proper elevation to allow for the introduction of the member A therebeneath, after such member has been mounted upon the fork in the manner described. The arms of the lift truck fork are then raised to bring the member A into engagement with the under side of the load and the load is lifted so that the blocking may then be removed and the loadcan be freely supported by the truck fork and by the pair of dollies at the opposite end of the load. The truck can then readily draw the load to the desired destination.

I? is be t ed t at y 1 11? use of the invention as herein embodied, the services of only one man are required other than the driver of the truck and that transportation or shifting of a load of considerable Weight can be effected in a very short period of time.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a means for transporting heavy loads constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly Well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

What is claimed is:

1. A load supporting unit for mounting on a vertically movable load carrier of an industrial lift truck, comprising a member, means for securing the lower member to the lift truck, a king bolt, means forming an upper member for connecting the king bolt to the load to depend therefrom, the lower member having an opening to receive the king bolt whereby said lower member and the load are swivelly coupled.

2. A load supporting unit for mounting on a vertically movable load carrier of an industrial lift truck comprising a member, means for securing the member to the load carrier, a bolster to engage the bottom of the load, and a king bolt depending from the bolster, the member having an opening to receive the king bolt to permit the member and the bolster to be swivelly connected.

3. A load supporting unit for mounting on a Vertically movable load carrier of an industrial lift truck, comprising a member, means for securing the member to the load carrier, a bolster to en gage the bottom of the load, and a king bolt de pending from the bolster, the member having an opening to receive the king bolt to permit the member and the bolster to be swivelly connected, said bolster having lateral arms to facilitate coupling the bolster to the load.

4. A load supporting unit for mounting on a vertically movable load carrier of an industrial lift truck, comprising a member, means for securing the member to the load carrier, 2. bolster to engage the bottom of the load, and a king bolt depending from the bolster, the member having an opening to receive the king bolt to permit the member and the bolster to be swivelly connected, said bolster at predetermined points having bolts threading therethrough from below for contact with the bottom of the load.

5. A load supporting unit for mounting on a vertically movable load carrier of an industrial lift truck, comprising a member, a bolster of v channel form to engage the bottom of the load, a king bolt integral with and depending from the ridge of the bolster, the member having an opening to receive the king bolt to permit the member and the bolster to be swivelly connected, and means for detachably securing the member on the load carrier.

6. A load supporting unit for mounting on a vertically movable load carrier of an industrial lift truck, comprising a member, a bolster of V channel form to engage the bottom of the load, a king bolt integral with and depending from the ridge of the bolster, the member having an opening to receive the king bolt to permit the member and the bolster to be swivelly connected, means for detachably securing the member on the load carrier, and laterally extending substantially fiat plates on opposite margins of the bolster for engaging the bottom of the load.

EDWARD E. BOLLINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 385,181 I-Iuntly June 26, 1888 1,072,234 Irwin Sept. 2, 1913 1,825,196 McDaniel Sept. 29, 1931 1,375,052 Ljungkull Aug. 30, 1932 1,896,698 Chase Feb. '7, 1933 1,902,834 Cohen-Venezian Mar. 2 8, 1933 2,120,042 Remde June '7, 1938 2,362,991 Dahl Nov. 21, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 755,346 France Nov. 23, 1933 

